A Coaster that reminds you of someone

*Rollercoaster Challenge Day 4 - A roller coaster that reminds you of someone

Iron Dragon: Cedar Point

This was probably the most difficult one to choose for me, but I went with Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. Iron Dragon is a fairly un-memorable ride and has the diss-tinction of being the worst roller coaster of its type.

One day in July 2006, some of my friends (B*, D*, L*, and C* … I think that's all of them) from my hometown in Iowa came to visit me and ride all of CP's awesome roller coasters. We lined up together to ride this, but I went first because we all couldn't get on the same train easily. I was waiting for everyone at the exit. Then L* comes out grinning, "I THREW UP ALL OVER THE TRAIN!" I was thinking, "You did not, you're smiling," but, indeed, it had happened.

Iron Dragon has automatic gates, so the hosts told the next group of riders NOT to board the train. No one did...except one eager girl who just happened to be going to sit in the seats with puke on them. Oops.

I think of my friends and this story and smile when I walk by this ride.

Psalm 51

Psalm 51 was written by King David when Nathan the prophet confronted him about his sin. Life gets messy sometimes. Well, most of the time. Sometimes the messes are of our own making; sometimes we are thrust into circumstances that feel out of our control or totally unfair. But, no matter the situation, the consequences of our sins almost always affect other people.

Get off the train. Admit that you messed up. Pray that no one falls into the mess that you just made and it ruins his life. And realize that you cannot even clean up this mess yourself.

King David begs God to forgive him and wash him. He knows that there is no other cleansing. Without God, our evil is always there. What a relief that He purifies us and makes us right so we can be in His presence. The bad news is that we are all guilty. The good news is that Jesus blots out our guilt and restores the joy of our salvation. That’s grace. That will make you smile.

Challenge Day 3

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 3 - A roller coaster you could ride over and over again

Kraken- SeaWorld Orlando
I celebrated New Year's Eve into New Year's day 2006 at Sea World. I wanted to ride this ride 2006 times, but I only got to 17, which is still my one-day record*.  The Kraken is a massive, mythological underwater creature that was caged by Poseidon (Greek god of the sea). This steel coaster is Bolliger and Mabillard’s finest floorless creation.  My feet dangled over the water as we took a subterranean dive through Kraken’s lair and slithered through loops, a zero-G roll, a Cobra roll, and a corkscrew, evading the monster’s tentacles.
*This record has been broken.

Psalm 18: 1-15

This Psalm makes me feel like I have just angered a monster. (Psalm 18:4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.) Terrified by ungodliness, bound by snares, pursued by enemies, I am hopelessly lost.  I can only be rescued by One who is stronger. (Psalm 18:9 He opened the heavens and came down…)

Throughout our lives, we’ll encounter one element after another. No matter how slowly we chug up the hill, the drop makes us call His name. Hang on. In the end, we will delight in His great deliverance and lovingkindness. We will exalt His name over and over again.

Challenge 2 Least Favorite

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 2 - Least favorite roller coaster

Magnum XL-200, Cedar Point

What is exactly does that mean "least favorite"? Is it least thrilling? Most disappointing?  I interpreted it as "worse emotional reaction to hearing its name." I'm going to take heat for this if anyone actually reads this (but, hey, I'm looking for page views!), but I choose Magnum XL-200. By far the world's WORST hypercoaster, and the worst designed restraint system I've ever seen. This ride would not be ranked in the top 100 if it were at a park not called "Cedar Point."

Magnum XL-200 first opened in 1989 and was dubbed a “hypercoaster.” True, the crests and drops paved the way for more phenomenal coasters, but now it is a relic that hasn’t aged well. There isn’t enough thrill payback on this out and back coaster for the bumps and bruises contracted on the ride.

Psalm 125

When we first become Christians, it is an intense experience, intended to be the beginning of a life of following Jesus. In the roller coaster world, steel coasters have advanced far beyond Magnum XL. How foolish to continue thinking that “it doesn’t get any better than this” when technology has clearly launched adrenaline junkies with higher, better, faster. If we dwell in our Christian “babyhood,” we are in for a rough ride. The excitement wears off, and the restraint system is insufficient for the forces that will pull us. As we mature in our Christian lives, His Spirit enables us to meet the challenges and protects us in and from the temptations of the world.

Psalm 125: 1, 2 is as pertinent for us today as it was for the pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mt. Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forever. The Lord will lead us away from the ones who entice us to turn aside and will surround His people. Trust Him.

Roller Coaster Challenge

Roller Coaster Challenge

Roller Coaster Challenge Day 1 - What is your favorite roller coaster?

Maverick, Cedar Point

No surprises here; it’s got to be Maverick, Cedar Point--the world’s most ridiculously awesome creation. (For the record, I coined “ridiculous awesomeness.”)

Why is Maverick the world’s best roller coaster? VARIETY. I can’t pick what my favorite part of the ride is: every element is designed flawlessly.

Maverick starts with an electromagnetic launch up a lift hill, so it only takes about 10 seconds to climb 100 ft. The first drop is steeper than straight down, the steepest in Ohio. Maverick then twists through sharp turns at ground level and through rock formations. Next is a small hill, which is shaped perfectly for maximum airtime (and maximum everything-falls-out-of-your pockets as well).

The train continues through two zero-G rolls, in which one feels weightless while upside-down. This is a rare treat and makes these my favorite inversions on any roller coaster.

At this point, Maverick is only halfway through its course. Most rides have all the excitement early in the ride, but Maverick’s closing is an impressive as its opening. Brakes slow down the train at this point, but electromagnets launch it to 70 mph inside a tunnel! The ride concludes with high-speed changes of direction, powerful turns, and a final perfect airtime hill.

Cedar Point has a long history of building the biggest and the fastest of whatever newest type of roller coaster is available. Maverick was never the biggest, fastest, or even the steepest. Instead, every element on Maverick was given special attention to be as effective as it could possibly be. Maverick is the only roller coaster to feature launches, a 90+ degree drop, inversions, tight changes of direction, and perfect airtime hills. It is possible to create a better-designed and more diverse roller than Maverick…but just barely.

Psalm 98:1-9

Sometimes when we lack words we coin our own—words like “ridiculous awesomeness.” David, the writer of the Psalms, had a similar roadblock when singing praises to God. The old songs just weren’t expressing his intense feelings and unspeakable praise. “Sing a new song!” he shouts, “for God has done wonderful deeds!” (Psalm 98:1).

Life is the best-designed ride you will ever strap yourself into. Yes, you experience the highs and the drops, the changes and the rolls, but you have the assurance that His love and faithfulness will turn inversions into joy.  Half-way through, burst into jubilant song because He is in the tunnel with you. Empty your pockets of the trinkets of this life. Be grateful for every element of the ride. Know that He gives special attention to you. What a thrill to clap your hands at the end of the ride and praise the Maker, for it could not have been better designed!


Psalm 98:1-9

1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things;his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 

2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousnessto the nations. 

3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 

5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 

6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King. 

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 

8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

9let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.